New Delhi, Nov. 1 -- The world appears to be slipping into bipolarity, with US President Donald Trump realizing the limits of America's economic leverage-whether through sanctions or trade. His tariffs failed to move China, forcing him to revive the Barack Obama-era "G2" idea, much to the dismay of India, which has long championed a multipolar world.

The self-styled dealmaker once again made it clear that he has little regard for multilateral diplomacy, flying back to the US after meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping at Busan airport in South Korea, without attending the 21-member Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit.

Well, for him, the business was done. He got what he came for-Xi Jinping's commitment to suspend export controls on ...